Metropolis, IL: IC Depot

(Satellite, it was east of Girard St., halfway between 1st and 2nd)

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted

A few photos from Superman's hometown...

The city of Metropolis, IL, is located along the Ohio River, about 10 miles downstream from Paducah, KY.  In 1888 the Chicago St. Louis & Pacific Railway completed construction of a 53 mile line stretching from Marion, IL, through Reevesville and Metropolis, and terminating at Brooklyn (later renamed Brookport).  A ferry was used to take CStL&P trains into Paducah.

In the late 1890's the CStL&P was acquired by the Illinois Central.  Two more railroads entered Metropolis in 1910.  The Chicago Burlington & Quincy completed construction of a line north to Centralia, IL.  Also in 1910 the CB&Q and the Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) formed the Paducah & Illinois Railroad.  The P&I was a "paper railroad".  It was formed for the purpose of building a bridge across the Ohio River at Metropolis, plus a railroad line on the Kentucky side of the river into Paducah.  IC initially did not own part of the P&I, but in 1922 acquired a 1/3 interest in the bridge when building the Edgewood Cutoff.

The photo of the IC's Metropolis depot was taken by an IC company photographer in 1915.  The depot was along the riverfront, at the corner of First Street and Metropolis Street, a few blocks east of the P&I bridge.

The IC entered the town on the east side whereas the CB&Q entered it on the west side.

1940 Paducah Quad @ 62,500

This shows the depot was halfway between 1st and 2nd. And, except between Metropolis and Girard, 1st Street was the CB&Q riverfront RoW. Also, the river was running really high. A lot of todays casino would be in water if the river ran this high today.

EarthExplorer: Feb 21, 1952 @ 23,600; AR1SW0000010033

I included this map to document that topo maps can be rather inaccurate. I presume the rectangle at the end of Catherine St. is supposed to be the depot. Note that the map is missing the one block of 1st St. that existed back then.

1967 Metropolis Quad @ 24,000

Andy Zukowski posted
Illinois Central Depot in Metropolis, Illinois. 1976